2022 RCA Groundstaff Awards Winners Announced
The Racecourse Association (RCA) is delighted to announce the winners of the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards for 2022.
Sponsored by Agrovista Amenity, DLF Seeds & Science and Duralock the award winners were decided by an industry panel made up of representatives from the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and National Trainers Federation (NTF).
The 2022 Groundstaff Awards are partnered by Agrovista Amenity, DLF Seeds & Science and Duralock
The winners and runners up across the three racecourse categories are as follows;
Flat winner- York Racecourse
Jump winner – Cartmel Racecourse
Dual purpose winner – Ascot Racecourse
Flat runner up – Salisbury Racecourse
Jump runners up – Warwick Racecourse
Dual purpose runner up – Ayr Racecourse
The winners and runners up are deemed to have demonstrated the highest levels of commitment, innovation and excellence across the year to racecourse groundsmanship and turf husbandry.
The racecourses all showed tremendous commitment to improve their racing surfaces, welfare standards, stable areas, and the continued professional development (CPD) of the groundstaff team.
The welfare standards at Cartmel Racecourse during the recent hot weather were especially praised by the judging panel, where the racecourse made a change to the running order to enable the team to provide dedicated and proactive rapid cooling to all runners. Anthea Leigh, Clerk of the Course at Cartmel, said: “I am delighted for Head Groundsman Gary Sharp, his assistant Jamie King, and the whole team at Cartmel, that their hardwork, expertise and professionalism has been recognised with this fantastic award.
“This summer particularly threw up many challenges, including record temperatures, but through skill and dedication from all the team they produced a first class racing surface for each day, and comprehensive and efficient cooling for all the runners.”
York Racecourse was praised by the judging panel for exceptional work to the stable area, while flat runners up Salisbury’s jockey changing areas were highly praised. The commitment shown to human and equine welfare across all the courses truly emphasis the care and dedication racing provides to its athletes. William Derby, York Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said: “All the team at York are absolutely thrilled to win the Flat Groundstaff Awards. Brilliantly led by Anthea Leigh and Adrian Kay, the team have worked tirelessly in the most challenging of climatic conditions to consistently deliver a fabulous racing surface which welcomed a record number of runners including the world’s highest rated turf racehorse.
“I am hugely proud of all they have achieved and their relentless efforts to continue to improve and innovate as we seek to raise the bar in our turf, flowers and lawns at York.”
Ascot Racecourse impressed the judging panel with their advance in science and management of the turf, with the quality of turf during Royal Ascot being commended as ‘fantastic’. Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course, said: “We are delighted to receive this award and thank the sponsors for their support. It has been a challenging year and it is great that the team’s hard work has been recognised in this way.”
In addition to this, two further awards were given; the Most Improved New Member to Luke Randall, in recognition of his impressive attitude and enthusiasm. The team at Warwick and the judging panel felt that Luke has real potential to go right to the top of the turf management industry, and the Neil Wyatt Lifetime Achievement Award which went the way of Kelso Racecourse’s Brian Meikle to celebrate his fantastic commitment to racing and Kelso.
The judging panel discussed the Special Merit Award at length and agreed to award it to all racecourses for their fortitude and resilience, particularly in light of COVID, changing regulations and climate change.
The sponsors and judges highly commended the commitment and innovation these tracks have shown throughout the year and their tireless work to enhance the quality and safety of the racing surfaces and other areas of the course.
George Noad, representing the NTF, said: “The high quality of work undertaken by Groundstaff in difficult weather conditions and a demanding fixture list made it very difficult to pick winners. However, the awards have gone to Groundstaff who provide an excellent racing surface and continue to show improvements on the track. The hard work undertaken by Groundstaff throughout the year is very important for the safety of all the sport’s participants and they deserve our thanks”.
Dale Gibson, PJA Executive Director, said: “Groundstaff up and down the country have worked as hard as ever to produce a suitable and consistent surface to race on. This summer in particular proved no exception with an extended draught nationwide, meaning considerable watering at all turf venues was the norm. We thank everyone involved for their continued dedication to the job and all it entails”.
Ascot, Cartmel and York will all be in the running to be crowned the 2022 Racecourse Groundstaff Champion, where the announcement will be made at the eleventh annual RCA Showcase Awards held at Pontefract Racecourse on Thursday 10th November 2022.
